BBOB started the New Year with a good win over a team determined to make a name for themselves for all the wrong reasons! An under-strength BBOB team started the game well; in the third minute a cross from left back Ryan Satterley, returning from injury, was flicked on by Keith Churchward and headed goal bound by BBOB top scorer Matt Barton. BBOB settled down after this, and attempted to play their usual passing game! White Crow were in no mood to allow this, and before long there were some heated exchanges between both set of players concerning offside decisions given against White Crow. BBOB stood up well to the challenge, and White Crow created little in the way of chances in the first half, other than a few crosses and the occasional long range effort. Although the same could be said for BBOB, they did increase their lead in the 40th minute, after a good move down the right hand side involving Joe Thomas, his pass found Howard Lloyd in space on the edge of the area and his perfectly hit left footed shot found the left hand top corner of the net. Half time 2-0.
The second half started comfortably for BBOB, player manager Steve Maskell was replaced at half time by forward Ben Wheatland; Joe Thomas reverted to right midfield. BBOB had the best of the exchanges and White Crow grew increasingly frustrated with the way the game was going, and started to pick up some bookings for foul play & language. Unfortunately for the White Crow, their attempts to intimidate their opposition appeared to fail completely and in the 55th minute BBOB increased their lead. A free kick on the half way line, taken by right back Mark Goodman, playing his first game of the season (for the first team) bounced to Howard Lloyd inside the area, and his header found the back of the net.
White Crow made a substitution after this, and introduced a new forward, this increased the pressure on the BBOB defence and created a couple of chances, both of which the BBOB defence and goalkeeper Craig Watson were equal to, particularly centre back Sam Hamberger who defended almost-perfectly throughout the whole game. Somehow the White Crow right back escaped punishment for swinging at least two punches and a possible head butting on BBOB forward Ben Wheatland, the referee appeared to not see it when everybody else did?? In the 75th minute, Howard Lloyd almost completed a perfect hat-trick when he found himself one on one with keeper but his attempt to lob the keeper failed completely when he hit his shot straight at the keeper!
Despite all the shenanigans which included constant abuse encountered by the BBOB team, players, linesman and supporters, BBOB refused to get too involved in any of the altercations and were able to leave the field of play with their heads held high. This was helped by a fourth goal in the 87th minute, where a corner played into the box by Ryan Satterley was not cleared by the White Crow defence. After a ricochet the ball fell to Matt Barton, who made no mistake, burying the ball with his right foot past the opposition keeper.
Match report by Paul Barton
